Dayne’s Top 10 for 2010by Tania Wheeler

December 31st, 2010

I have mostly travelled in Southern Africa and have felt the heat of Namibia, the droughts in Botswana, and swum in the azure waters of Mozambique. Each destination offers something very different so here are my Top 10 favorites, including my best kept secrets for Cape Town.

01. Climbing Dune 45 at sunrise This is not exactly adrenalin pumping action but for me it was a definite must do activity in the vast Namibian desert. The beauty of the landscape makes you feel slightly insignificant in the orange coloured surroundings with the sun rising over the dunes.

02. Braai at Oudekraal The national past time in South Africa of course is to slap some meat on a fire and have a few drinks. Oudekraal on the Atlantic Seaboard is the last strong hold of Cape Town spots where you can braai on the beach. A best kept secret in Cape Town.

03. Dhow Trip in Mozambique The shabby little boat didn’t make me too enthusiastic about this trip but believe me, whatever beauty that lay in front of me was definitely no match to the magic that awaited me under water. Snorkelling along the reefs was one of the best experiences I have had.

04. Exploring the Okavango Delta Flying in small aircraft like the Cesna is really not something that makes me feel safe and definitely gives the saying, “a wing and a prayer”, new meaning. Having a bird’s eye view gives you a completely different vantage point to view the animals in this ever-changing landscape of water. You only realize the size of the world’s largest inland delta by viewing it from the sky.

05. Chobe Sunset Boat Cruise Huge masses of lumpy Hippos show you their pink mouths and big teeth while massive herds of Elephant lumber along and remind you just how small you are.

06. Climbing Table Mountain Living in Cape Town it’s definitely a prerequisite to climb Table Mountain. Table Mountain has a restaurant on top and though very pricey the champagne, I mean sparkling wine, was worth the toast at the end of it.

07. Seafood on Sundays Sunday is by far my favourite day of the week and my perfect getaway is to head to the south of Cape Town to the False Bay coast. Stroll around Kalk Bay and spend hours browsing through second-hand stores and finding those little gems or buying things you really don’t need. To round off the day head to 'Kalkies' for the best seafood that side of the mountain.

08. Beach front Cocktails Summer has hit Cape Town and cocktails after work are the order of the day. Considering myself a connoisseur of sorts, I have sampled cocktails in practically every establishment worth their daiquiri. The best kept secret is definitely the Radisson Hotel at the Waterfront. Offering a wide selection of tapas and perched right on the water’s edge, there is no better spot to watch sunset over the Atlantic Ocean. Breathtaking.

09. Learning to Surf There is always that something you would like to do but never had the guts to try it. I literally decided to take the plunge and spend a day learning how to surf at Muizenberg Beach on the southern peninsula in Cape Town. What an awesome experience and fun day out. Highly recommended as a confidence booster and will give you a new lease on life.

10. Canoeing on the Orange River For gentle river tripping or canoeing, the Orange River, on the border of South Africa and Namibia, is the best. Long, flat scenic stretches with a few rapids in between. No match to white river rafting but still awesome fun especially in a group.